The Prophet and the Idiot

A Novel

By: Jonas Jonasson

Narrated by: Peter Kenny

Obsessed by what they are certain is the impending apocalypse, a mismatched trio set off on a globetrotting road-trip in the latest feel-good adventure from the internationally bestselling author of The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.

In the fading days of late summer, 2011, self-taught astrophysicist Petra has calculated that the atmosphere will collapse in a few weeks’ time—on September 21, at approximately 9:20 pm—ending the world as we know it.

But the distraught Petra will not have to carry the burden of this terrible news alone for long. Fate intervenes, bringing her into the orbit of a pair of unlikely companions: Johan, a man whose intellectual prowess is remarkably overshadowed by his culinary skills, and Agnes, a seventy-five-year-old widow who has made a fortune posing as a young influencer on social media. Convincing them of the impending doom, Petra, Johan, and Agnes embark on a wild adventure in a camper van that will take them from their homes in Sweden, through Europe, to their destination: Rome.

Johan plans to make the most of the time he has left. He has decided at last to stand up to his heinous big brother, promising to deliver a swift yet brutal blow in more ways than one. But, of course, nothing ever goes as planned. Not even the end of the world. . . .

In this, his sixth novel, Jonas Jonasson takes us on a dazzling odyssey across the globe–from Sweden, through Europe, across Africa, and all the way to the US. The Prophet and the Idiot is an immensely funny, socially conscious, and life-affirming yarn about what happens when three odd yet fully reasonable characters come together and find cause to make mutual plans, all relayed in Jonasson’s classically hilarious style.

Translated from the Swedish by Rachel Willson-Broyles

Another fun listen!

Enjoyable story, love his characters. I have listened to a few of his books, starting with the 100 year old man.

Slow beginning but picked up

The first section of the book was twice as long as necessary and the main characters, Petra and Johan, were one-dimensional compared to his other books I’ve read. The story picked up in section two and was a fun read overall if you can get past the tedious first section or characters that only have one topic of interest each.

Story was a hoot and kept our interest.

Liked everything easy to listen too and lots of humor believable kind of! great ending

The performer’s impersonation are so cringe

I suppose the European accents are tolerable but any of the characters beyond the continent gets so butchered, it’s distracting. I almost wish Peter Kenny will just narrate without using impersonations bc he has a lovely voice.

Otherwise great storytelling, fun characters, and creative scenarios. Worth a read/listen :)

Yet another Bite of Sumptuous Humour

One of Jonas Jonason's best books to date with every being tied closer together than a crochet, love did and would recommend it to anyone wanting a good listen before bedtime!